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HomeMy WebLinkAboutHuman Rights and Diversity - 02/13/2025 APPROVED MINUTES EDEN PRAIRIE HUMAN RIGHTS & DIVERSITY COMMISSION THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2025 7:00 P.M., EDEN PRAIRIE CITY CENTER Heritage Rooms 3 & 4 COMMISSION MEMBERS: Greg Leeper (Chair), Asad Aliweyd, Shana Bates, Zaheer Khan, Jody Knight, Jessica Oaxaca, Brenda Pfahnl, Savannah Riese, Kuhu Singh, Philip Skeie, John Urbanski, Susan Weaver STUDENT COMMISSION MEMBERS: Jude Lambal, Ayanna Arora, Kayna Aneja, Alisha Shah, Melody Li, Swara Halbe, Tamia Hassan, Zahara Umar COMMISSION STAFF: Paja Xiong, Community Services Manager & Staff Liaison Julie Krull, Recording Secretary I. CALL TO ORDER/ROLL CALL Chair Leeper called the meeting to order at 7:07 p.m. Commission Members Aliweyd, Bates, Oaxaca, Pfahnl, Riese and Singh and Student Commission Members Aneja and Hassan were absent. II. INTRODUCTION OF GUESTS There were no guests at the meeting this evening. III. APPROVAL OF AGENDA There was not a quorum to approve the agenda. IV. APPROVAL OF THE JANUARY 9, 2024 MEETING MINUTES There was not a quorum to approve the minutes. V. COMMUNITY PRESENTATION There was no community presentation this evening. VI. STAFF REPORT – PAJA XIONG There was no staff report this evening. HUMAN RIGHTS & DIVERSITY MINUTES February 13, 2025 Page 2 of 4 VII. OLD BUSINESS A. WORDS IN ACTION UPDATE Xiong shared with the Commission that the Words in Action contest is now closed. There were 43 participants this year; being the most in the past few years. In 2023 there were 28 applicants and in 2024 there were 9 applicants. Xiong said for this year there were 39 applicants in K-8, and 4 applicants in grade 9-12. She also gave thanks to the subcommittee, which consisted of Khan, Hassan and Aneja, for all of their hard work. Xiong pointed out a possible reason for the larger turnout this year was because of the advertising at the schools and the help by the student commissioners on the subcommittee. She stated the scoring for the submissions was done by the subcommittee along with someone from Community Education and someone from the Parks and Recreation Department. There were 4 contest winners. The first winner was Itisha Budamagunta from Eagle Ridge Academy. She did a drawing in regards to a statement by Ruby Bridges of Colombia High School. Her artwork depicts how children can participate in braking the chain of pain and hurt and create a bond of togetherness. The second winner was Amaya Demery from Cedar Ridge Elementary. She created a video slide show dance presentation based off of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. “I Have a Dream” quote, stating she has a dream that one day her children will not be judged by the color of their skin but rather the content of their character. The third winner was Sonakshi Dwivedi, an 8th grader from Central Middle School. She wrote a poem based off of a quote from Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., “The time is always the right thing to do what is right”. The fourth winner was Leisha Mekala from Central Middle School. She did a writing based off of Martin Luther King, Jr’s quote, “We must accept finite disappointment, but never lose infinite hope”. Chair Leeper thanked the subcommittee for all of their hard work. Khan responded by saying the Eagle News and advertising in the schools was very helpful. There was a strong turnout of applicants from K-8 and pointed out the scoring was very consistent with all of the scorers. Chair Leeper pointed out the next step will be the presentation to the City Council where the winners will present to Council. Khan requested getting three volunteers for that evening. Xiong said Hassan will not be available to assist and asked if there would be any other individuals that would like to volunteer. She stated volunteers would walk up to the podium with the winner and introduce them to the City Council. The City Council meeting will be held on February 18 and will start at 7pm but the volunteers should be there at 6:30pm. Chair Leeper commented in the past that the volunteers had a script they went off of when introducing the winners. One of the student commissioners said she did it last year and made her own script and will look for it. Xiong said she has Khan and Aneja who will volunteer; Shah said she may be able to attend and will let Xiong HUMAN RIGHTS & DIVERSITY MINUTES February 13, 2025 Page 3 of 4 know. Xiong said she will send out communication to the Commission Members and Student Commissioners who were not present at the meeting this evening to see if they would be able assist with volunteering. B. SUBCOMMITTEE UPDATE In regards to the Human Rights Award subcommittee Xiong said she will connect with Weaver on an update that she has. Urbanski gave an update on PeopleFest. He said the PeopleFest subcommittee met and there were 15 people in attendance, including the Park and Recreation Department and Community Education. There were a few asks of the HRDC. They would like the Commission to look for performers and food trucks for the event. Urbanski said if anyone has any ideas or suggestions to send those to Xiong. He said the Commission is also in charge of the restaurant guide. There are confirmed restaurants on the list and the suggestion was to reach out to these restaurants to see if they would be willing to submit a $20 gift to their restaurant for random drawings. Last year there were 30 restaurants listed with an addition of 10 from Asia Mall. Urbanski pointed out there are 13 Commissioners and if each Commissioner reached out to three restaurants that would be very helpful. He said he will create a script for them to use. Xiong responded by saying if there are any new restaurants to let her know also and said if any Student Commissioners want to reach out to some of the restaurants they are welcome to do that. She stated the event will take place at the end of July to the first week of August. Urbanski pointed out they will not be doing the Human Library this year but will have a table with information on the HRDC. The date for this event is Sunday, July 27th from 4 – 8pm. VIII. NEW BUSINESS A. IFTAR CELEBRATION DISCUSSION Xiong stated she met with the Iftar Committee from last year. This group included Mohamad, Aliweyd, Khan, and Jason from the Eden Prairie Police Department. She also met with the Communications Department in regards to updating the invitations. She has also met with the funders in order to secure more funding for the event. Currently there is $1,750 committed for this year. This is less than last year but considering last year they purchased food for 125 guests and only 85 showed up, this year they will plan for 100 guests. The cost will be $13.99 per person for a total of $1,636 including delivery and tax. The money left over will be used to purchase silverware and beverages. Xiong asked the Commission if anyone knows of a business or individual who would be willing to support this event and if so, send her the information and she will follow up with them. She pointed out she has a donor letter if anyone would like to use it. She also suggested reaching out to grocery stores to see if they would be willing to donate a $50 or $100 gift card that could be used for silverware, beverages and any other necessary items. She also stated she needs assistance coordinating speakers and they would be working with Khan, Aliweyd and Mohamed connecting with people who spoke last year to see if HUMAN RIGHTS & DIVERSITY MINUTES February 13, 2025 Page 4 of 4 they would be willing to speak again or to reach out to women who would also be willing to speak. Xiong pointed out the date for Iftar is Wednesday, March 19th and will take place between 5:30 to 7:45 pm. Chair Leeper asked for volunteers for the event. They need 4 greeters who will help with nametags and 2 individuals who will work with the servers and assist them with setup and teardown and monitoring the food as it will be set up buffet style. There will also be a need for a table engager who will assist with refreshments. Urbanski pointed out in regards to the rotary volunteers, they could assist with setup and teardown. He also suggested asking Mohamed’s wife to speak as she is from Tunisia. Chair Leeper inquired if the subcommittee deals with the guest list. Xiong responded that the subcommittee does and they have it well established. Xiong said she will reach out to the rotary club to see if they would be willing to donate and if they would, there would be no need to reach out to the grocery stores. Xiong wanted to remind the Commission that the HRDC Commission application process is now closed. There were 7 applicants and interviews will be in the next few weeks. B. PREPARATION FOR PARKS AND RECREATION PRESENTATION This was tabled due to there not being a quorum this evening. IX. UPCOMING MEETINGS A. March 13, 2025 X. ADJOURNMENT MOTION: There was not a quorum to adjourn the meeting. The meeting ended at 8:10 p.m.